“A lot of people in high school were like, ‘I’m getting out of Springfield.’ They have this mindset,” Clark said. “Well I was like, ‘Springfield’s not that bad.’”
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This year she is one of four recipients of the 2016-2017 Excellence In Teaching Award, which is sponsored by the Springfield News-Sun, Springfield Rotary Club, Ohio Edison, Springfield Foundation and Chamber of Greater Springfield.
The teachers will receive their recognition on March 20. The award is presented to Clark County teachers nominated by their colleagues and students.
One of Clark’s goals was to work in the Springfield City School District. She attended Highland, Simon Kenton, Roosevelt and North High School before attending Wittenberg. She said she wanted to show future students that Springfield City Schools can lead to success.
“I can be some kind of role model,” she said. “Someone who the kids can say, ‘She went to Springfield and she turned out OK.’ Maybe I can do the same and be a part of Springfield.”
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Clark has taught in the district for seven years. She said she enjoys every aspect of teaching.
“One thing that I get sometimes — kind of like a nerd because I may be planning my week — I get this excitement,” she said. “An excitement about teaching a math concept. There is this element of wanting to impart this math.”
While math contains a lot of numbers that can be daunting to her seventh and eighth grade students, Clark said she wanted to add fun to her class. It’s decorated with many colors and on one wall is a paper tree of knowledge. Students who do well on a test are given a leaf to staple onto the tree — however the students have gotten creative and instead of stapling just the tree, they have also attached them to the sun, the ground and every where else on the board.
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They have even stapled fake leaves on a more realistic fake tree in the classroom.
“I wanted to show the students that they are learning,” Clark said. “The tree used to be bare, but now it is covered with leaves.”
About this series
The Springfield News-Sun will profile four Clark County teachers who have been recognized with the Excellence in Teaching Awards for the 2016-2017 school year, continuing through Wednesday.
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